Heather Gipp, PE, ENV SP, is a senior water resources engineer and project manager in CMT’s St. Louis, MO, office. Her work includes water system modeling, water main design, storage tanks, treatment plants, booster stations, storm and sanitary sewers, wastewater treatment plants, pump stations, and wastewater collection systems. She is also known for her ability to foster strong, collaborative relationships across teams, clients, and industry networks. She holds a bachelor’s degree in agricultural and biological engineering and a master’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What drew you to a career in Water Resources, and what do you find fulfilling about the work?
When I started as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois-Champaign, I initially pursued a degree in speech and hearing science. However, within my first semester, I realized I wanted something more hands-on, rooted in math and science, and closely connected to the environment. This led me to switch my major to agricultural and biological engineering, with a focus on the biological side, and it turned out to be a great fit.
I later decided to go back to school for my master’s degree in environmental engineering, with a focus on water resources. The water side of the field fascinated me because it is such a vital resource, often taken for granted. I love being able to work behind the scenes to make sure everyone has access to clean water. People should not have to think about how their water is delivered or removed from their homes, and I take pride in helping make that happen.
Another aspect I find fulfilling is the opportunity to do repeat work for clients. I often think back to the first project I managed for clients like the City of St. Charles, MO, or the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (MSD). Reflecting on all the projects we have completed since then, it is clear the value we provide, as these clients continue to return for our services.
What is CMT’s Young Professionals Employee Resource Group (ERG), and what inspired you to get involved with the group?
CMT’s Young Professionals ERG is designed for employees in their first five years of post-college employment, although we are flexible with this – almost any new hire is invited to join. We hold virtual quarterly meetings to cover topics of interest to younger staff that might not be covered in a typical onboarding process. Previous discussions included 401(k) contributions, an introduction to business development, and information about company ownership. We usually invite speakers who have been at CMT for a while and hold senior positions. These meetings provide younger staff with valuable knowledge and opportunities for connections to be formed among the group, as well as opportunities to network with senior employees.
The ERG was formed out of an initiative by CMT’s internal Young Professionals Planning Group (YPPG), which consists of a handful of people with five to 10 years of experience. This group collaborates on initiatives to continuously improve CMT, with a focus on keeping younger staff in mind. I helped launch the ERG during my last year with the YPPG, and it has been really fun to watch it grow. We recently transitioned leadership over to some young professionals within the group, moving away from sole management by the YPPG. Now, we oversee and help ensure smooth operations. The ERG has experienced a lot of growth, and participating employees seem to appreciate it.
What professional organizations are you involved in, and how do they play a part in your work at CMT?
I am currently involved with the Missouri Section of the American Water Works Association (MO AWWA) as the vice chair on the board of directors, as well as the chair of the diversity and inclusion committee. During my time there, I have helped plan various statewide events – like a model water tower competition for school-age students, where they build elevated water towers out of recycled materials and test them with small pumps and buckets of water; happy hours for members; and events at our annual joint conference, such as the paint and sip event on Sunday afternoons. I find great joy in coordinating events like these.
In addition, I contribute to other decisions within MO AWWA as vice chair of the section. I work closely with other members of executive leadership to achieve our section’s objectives and provide a quality experience for all our membership. I’ve specifically enjoyed working to advance the section through our strategic planning process, as I am championing the membership engagement initiative. Being involved in this organization has significantly grown my network. Now, I can interact with people who either work for our clients, subconsultants, or with whom we might collaborate outside of a conference room setting. Getting to know members of the MO AWWA on a personal level makes working together a lot more fun and productive, and these interactions often lead to more work opportunities for CMT.
How was your experience in CMT’s Mentorship Program as a mentee and mentor?
My experience in the CMT Mentorship Program has been great. I always encourage everyone at CMT to participate in some capacity, whether as a mentee if you’re a recent graduate, or as a mentor to support and guide newer staff. When I was in CMT’s Peoria, IL, office, my mentor, Emily Munday, PE, helped me get ready for my PE exam and lent me her study materials. Now, since I am a Continuous Improvement and Innovation (CI²) coach and she is CMT’s CI² Manager, she and I work together a lot on CI² initiatives.
I have also mentored younger staff in the St. Louis, MO, office, and I like catching up with them in the break room and chatting. I love that CMT encourages these relationships and sets aside time for us to do so.
In addition to formal mentoring, I have informal mentor-mentee relationships with colleagues who have been here a few years longer than I have. We often go on walks and talk about how to navigate our careers and reach specific goals. The mentorship at CMT is truly great, both through the formal CMT Mentorship Program and the strong relationships we develop with each other.
As someone who is people-focused, I prioritize building relationships and friendships in the workplace. When facing a big deadline or complex project challenge, having these personal connections makes a significant difference – it’s easier to deliver high-quality work when you have a strong support network. We all have a lot in common if we take the time to build these internal relationships beyond just our client work.
What do you value most about CMT’s workplace culture?
One thing I love about CMT is the size of the firm. In terms of project work, we are large enough to take on big jobs from clients like MSD, the Missouri Department of Transportation, and St. Louis Lambert International Airport. However, we are small enough that our team members can work on various parts of these projects, rather than being pigeonholed into single tasks. This means that we get to see a project from start to finish, attend client meetings, draft in CAD, write reports, and design work.
In terms of culture and people, I believe everyone truly cares about each other. In the St. Louis office, we have potlucks on Halloween, bags tournaments with office staff and interns, and many more activities that bring us together and encourage conversations beyond work. This creates a supportive workplace environment and makes the CMT office somewhere I’m excited to be.
Finally, I very highly value the fact that senior leadership at CMT genuinely wants to see employees grow in their careers and succeed.
